Arsenal Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arsenal Academy |
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Columbia
,
South Carolina
|
|
| Information | |
| Other name | South Carolina Military Academy |
| School type | Military academy |
| Established | 1842 |
| Closed | 1865 |
| Feeder to | The Citadel Academy (from 1845) |
The Arsenal Academy was a special school in Columbia, South Carolina, that trained young people to be soldiers. It started in 1842 as its own school, set up by the state of South Carolina. A few years later, in 1845, it became part of a bigger military school called the South Carolina Military Academy (which is now known as The Citadel). Students would spend their first year of training at the Arsenal Academy before finishing their studies at the main Citadel Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. Sadly, the school was burned down in 1865 during the American Civil War and never opened again.
Contents
What Was the Arsenal Academy?
The Arsenal Academy was one of two military schools in South Carolina. Both schools were built in the 1820s as places to store weapons and supplies for the state. These places were called arsenals. They were created to help the state be ready in case of any big trouble or unrest.
Two Military Schools
In 1842, these two arsenals were turned into military academies:
- The Arsenal Academy was in Columbia. It was sometimes called "The Arsenal."
- The Citadel Academy was in Charleston. People often called it "The Citadel" because its building looked like a strong fort.
The Academy During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, which started in 1861, both the Arsenal Academy and the Citadel Academy were important military training schools.
Why the Arsenal Academy Closed
In 1865, during the war, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops marched through South Carolina. One of their goals was to destroy the Arsenal Academy. They burned it down, and it was never rebuilt.
What Happened to The Citadel?
The Citadel Academy in Charleston was lucky and did not get damaged. After the war, during a time called the Reconstruction Era, it was used to house soldiers. Later, it reopened as the South Carolina Military Academy, or simply The Citadel.
The Governor's Mansion
Today, the only building that survived from the original Arsenal Academy is the one that is now the South Carolina Governor's Mansion. This building used to be where the officers lived at the academy.
